San Jose Sharks: 3 players they should trade by the deadline

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This season is all but over for the San Jose Sharks. But they can recoup some assets with a few trades. Here’s who they should be shopping.

Over the past few years, the San Jose Sharks have made a bunch of moves to go all-in and try to win a Stanley Cup. General Manager Doug Wilson has bet a lot on this team winning a title. Unfortunately, it has become painfully clear that it didn’t work out.

The Sharks came into the 2019-20 season with high hopes, but have yet to be anything close to as good as people anticipated them to be. Entering Jan. 10, they have a 20-22-4 record and their .478% point percentage is the seventh-lowest mark in the NHL. The Sharks are eight points out of a wild card spot and nine points out of third place in the Pacific Division.

It’s time for the Sharks to admit their plan to win a Stanley Cup failed. They’ve invested a lot of assets into this team (including their 2020 first-round pick), but they can still recoup a few of them by trading some players at the deadline.

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The Sharks likely aren’t going to make any earth-shattering moves because, simply, nobody’s going to want any of their huge contracts. However, if they play their cards right, they can recoup some of what they’ve given up and begin what could be a very painful rebuilding process.

It would be ideal for the Sharks to trade Joe Thornton because he’s somebody who teams would love to add. Also, let’s not kid ourselves, Jumbo Joe deserves a Stanley Cup, gosh darn it. Thornton riding out into the sunset with a Stanley Cup would easily be up there with Raymond Bourque retiring on top.

Alas, Thornton has expressed zero intentions to leave San Jose. He didn’t want to leave even after the Sharks stripped him of his captaincy and reportedly wanted him to leave. So why would Thornton leave now?

Here’s a look at the three players the Sharks should trade (other than Thornton, which obviously isn’t happening).

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3. Melker Karlsson

I had you for a second, didn’t I? No, the Sharks shouldn’t trade Erik Karlsson. Even if they wanted to, who’s touching that contract? Nobody. Melker Karlsson, however, is a different story. He’s in the last year of his deal before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The 29-year-old forward has a $2 million cap hit.

Karlsson would add something to a contender’s bottom-six forward group. In 42 games this season, he has three goals and four assists for seven points. However, scoring isn’t his specialty. Karlsson’s specialty is his penalty killing.

He averages nearly two minutes per game shorthanded and leads the NHL’s best penalty killing group. Karlsson would be a great addition to any contender who’s looking to bolster their special teams.

Karlsson’s also fairly cheap with just a $2 million cap hit. He has a history of being a reliable bottom-six forward. Last season, for example, Karlsson had 16 points. He’s usually hovered right around that.

Teams Who Could Be Interested

I could see the Edmonton Oilers being interested, though the Sharks might have to retain some salary to make it work. They certainly need forwards to help jump-start their bottom six and Karlsson will be one of the more affordable options.

2. Brenden Dillon

I got you again, didn’t I? You thought I was going to say Erik Karlsson or Brent Burns, didn’t you? Well, the San Jose Sharks should trade a defenseman. It’s just not one of them. Ideally, it would be Marc-Edouard Vlasic, whose decline has been brutal, to say the least. However, nobody’s going to want him. That won’t be the case for Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon.

Much like Melker Karlsson, Dillon has one year left on his deal before he becomes a free agent in July. He has a $3.27 million cap hit and is averaging just over 19 minutes of ice time per game this season. In 46 games, Dillon has one goal and 10 assists for 11 points. He’s 29 years old and is left-handed.

Dillon’s underlying stats are quite promising. He has the second-highest CorsiFor percentage at 5v5 among all Sharks defensemen, trailing only Erik Karlsson. Dillon is also quite capable on the penalty kill. The Sharks would probably like to keep him around, but they might not have the cap space to do so. Ergo, trading Dillon seems like a logical move for the San Jose Sharks.

Teams Who Should Be Interested

The New York Islanders seem like a team that would make sense for Dillon. They recently lost Adam Pelech due to injury. Dillon would be a solid replacement. He has played a similar role to the one Pelech plays for the Islanders.

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1. Kevin Labanc

The San Jose Sharks top trade chip is forward Kevin Labanc. He had a great season in 2018-19, putting up career highs in goals (17), assists (39), and points (56) after earning a role in the Sharks’ third line. During the 2019 offseason, Labanc agreed to a one-year $1 million deal, hoping to cash in after a Stanley Cup run.

Unfortunately, that Stanley Cup run isn’t happening. The Sharks, however, could cash in big time by trading Labanc. Through 46 games this season, he has 23 points, which has him on pace for a third consecutive season with at least 40 points.

Back in 2018, the Chicago Blackhawks traded Ryan Hartman to the Nashville Predators for a prospect, a first-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the San Jose Sharks get a similar return for Labanc. This would let them get a first-round pick back, even if it’s not their own.

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Of course, the Sharks could elect to keep Labanc as well. After all, he’s only 24 years old and likely won’t cost too much. But the Sharks would be silly if they didn’t at least check out what teams would be willing to give up for him.

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